Market Update (NYSE:DUK): Duke Energy designates Yoho to lead Natural Gas Operations upon completion of the Piedmont acquisition

[PR Newswire] – CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Duke Energy today designated Frank Yoho to lead its natural gas operations when the company’s acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas closes, expected by the … Read more on this. Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) , with a current value of $47.92B, opened this morning at $70.08. Looking at the equity, the company’s one day range is $68.78 to $70.35 with a one year range of $65.50 to $89.97. Priced at 14.95x this year’s forecasted earnings, DUK shares are relatively expensive compared to the industry’s 13.02x forward p/e ratio. And for passive income investors, the company pays shareholders $3.30 per share annually in dividends, yielding 4.79%. In a review of the consensus earnings estimate this quarter, 15 sell-side analysts are looking at $0.93 per share, which would be $0.07 better than the year-ago quarter and a $0.03 sequential increase. The full-year EPS estimate is $4.58, which would be a $0.03 better than last year. The quarterly earnings estimate is based on a consensus revenue forecast of the current quarter of $6.56 Billion. If realized, that would be a 17.99% increase over the year-ago quarter. In terms of ratings, Mizuho Initiated DUK at Neutral (Jun 30, 2015). Previously, Bernstein upgraded DUK from Mkt Perform to Outperform. Given all the information above, we should disclose to readers that the average price target is $75.42, which is 7.62% above than it opened this morning. See more in (NYSE:DUK) Similar Articles: Stock Update (NYSE:DUK): PNY SHAREHOLDER ALERT: The Law Offices of Vincent Wong Launches an Investigation of the Board of Directors of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. Regarding the Sale of the Company to Duke Energy Corp. — PNY Market Update: Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK) – SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Notifies Shareholders of Piedmont Natural Gas Company, Inc. of Commencement of an Investigation Concerning the Fairness of the Sale of the Company to Duke Energy Corp. — PNY Company Update (NYSE:DUK): Duke Energy to buy Piedmont to boost natgas operations